Acoustic Basses....

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:54 pm

After doing some extensive research, I've just purchased a mint Tacoma CB10C Thunderchief acoustic bass off the 'bay... From what I've read, this one seems to give more "bang" for the buck with nice boomy low end and crisp highs plugged in OR unplugged...just what I'm looking for. I've heard lots of reasons NOT to buy an acoustic, but I really needed one for small, cozy settings and small get-togethers....

So...what acoustic basses do y'all play .... and why do you like yours?

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:53 pm

I have a 1998 martin B-1 that sounds very clear and plays quite nicely. It's a bit sensitive to feedback, however.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:01 pm

Yeah that Thunderchief (is that PC?) has great projection and a pretty good thump.

I'm a lttle crass, therefore;

ealdrett · Post by **ealdrett** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 6:48 am

I play a 1989 Guild B30 TobaccoBurst.
I love the sustain and boominess when played unplugged. Plugged is sounds too tinny so I bring up the bass more and lower the treble. Then EQ drop on the mids.

loves4003 · Post by **loves4003** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 6:57 am

I have this Mayhill. It plays like **** and sounds like ****, but it's sooo cute...

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 5:09 am

I have a Maritn B 1E, and I get a lot of compliments on the unplugged sound at acoustic jams. It isn't very loud, and I have to use a pick, but it is nice to play, especially since no one else seems to have an acoustic bass. I try to pass it around so others can take turn playing bass, so I can play something else, but bass ain't everyone's bag, I have found out! Some people just dig the limelight!

I bought mine used on ebay, I think it is the instrument that I play the most and get the most requests to play, unplugged, anyway. Go figure.......I don't understand why other guitarists don't want to take their turn? It isn't because they can't lol! I love this bass! I also got an Acoustic Image Contra for it, and it really rocks with that thing, in fact, it sounds really good for quieter rock and blues sound that you just don't get with a solid body.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:21 pm

Thanks, everyone!

Anyone else...?

bugman · Post by **bugman** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:26 pm

I had a Guild B30E that I used a couple of times in a Church guitar group. It had a great sound but man was that thing big. I think my 3 Hofners could have fit inside it

I sold it a while back and sadly shortly after sold my C64S and 4001V63. I should have kept the V63 but I didnt want to be the guy to booger up that amazing fireglo finish. I may go Rickenbacker shopping again but for now the Hofners will have to do. Back to the acoustic subject has anyone tried the Hofner acoustic basses? I've seen them priced pretty reasonable and wondered how they sounded.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:12 pm

I got the Tacoma today. Big, big bass! I love the tones this thing produces acoustically. This seems to be a very well put together instrument....and it is made in the USA. I am wondering how I'm going to control this crazy feedback! Wow..it's like this thing has a mind of its own....I'm playing it through my Ric TR35B bass amp...I've got to stand about 10' away to keep it from feeding back....I'm quickly falling for this wonderful instrument!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:14 pm

Oh...and with this being a large bodied bass...you'd think the neck would be a baseball bat!....but surprisingly , it's not! It is very slim and fast...it feels like the neck of a first edition Ric Cheyenne bass!

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 12:21 am

I have a Washburn 5-string bass. I've heard that Warwicks are the best.

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:58 am

Regarding the feedback, I have a Fishman Bass EQ Preamp where you can switch your phase etc and cut the feedback down. I see you have on board eq, but you could use a preamp like this
http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/preamp-fishman2.html

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:07 pm

Thanks, Kaia.... I'm looking at those options now. Tonight I played it through a decent sound system direct...it sounded great. Not sure I like the feel of those Elixir bronze roundwounds though...

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:36 am

My new Axe
http://portland.craigslist.org/msg/175006668.html
Just got this baby yesterday, and I hear you are not supposed to clean them up, but blech, I had to! He is a gorgeous old thing and so sweet! This is my first fretless and actually, the only problem is that I am not that great of a bass player, period! The notes are still in the same place as before, and I just love this narrow, round neck and fingerboard. Talk about feedback, though, you have to use the EQ! I did get a better price, but there have not been any upright basses in my area at all, so I did have to pay what I thought was a lot.